Advice / Enquiries
All opinions expressed are without prejudice and are the opinions of the contributor / writer.
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Post 6 Recent Post from one of our readers Name: Laura email address? email Message? I'm e-mailing on behalf of Stage Direct, a Norfolk theatre group you placed on your site. I really appreciate you adding us to your site as any publicity and interest we can get is always beneficial. I was just wondering if it is possible to e-mail you or to create some way of being able to get additional events and details added to your site at various points in the future? Also is there anything we should or could be doing to maintain a level of interest for our group on your site and else where? Any information and advice you can offer would be most appreciated. Many Thanks Stage Direct Peter's response: Hi Laura, If you take a look at the www.dramagroups.com website you’ll find that there are opportunities to email details of: Forthcoming Shows; Auditions and Events that your Group may be holding, also you can advertise for Props and Costumes either for sale or wanted; Off/Backstage requirements; Music/Lyrics/Backing Tracks; Reviews. There are also Advice columns and Articles and a Notice Board where you can post anything not covered by one of the other categories. I suggest you make full use of all these facilities in order to keep your Group at the forefront of the www.dramagroups.com website. Also I notice that I haven’t got your Group’s website address nor do I have a logo for you. Each of these things will help to bring your Group to the attention of our visitors. If you do not have a website then I would recommend you set one up and advertise it in your show programmes. If a website is not possible then perhaps you should think of setting up a Facebook Group, which more and more groups are doing these days. I am thinking of setting up a Facebook Page for DramaGroups.com. I hope this helps. Do let me know if I can be of any further assistance. With your agreement I would like to post your email and this reply in our Advice column as there may be other Groups that find themselves in a similar position. Best Regards, Peter Would you like to comment on this? Click Here |
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Post 5 Recent Post from one of our readers Name: Jane email address? email Message? Where does one look for jobs in performing arts and dance for teaching, workshops, coaching, sessional job in the north west? Thanks Peter's response: Hi Jane, I'm afraid I can't really help you in finding a job in the performing arts. I suspect that there are thousands of others out there with exactly the same problem. The www.dramagroups.com website deals only with amateur groups and societies. Perhaps a look through the 'Stage' magazines would be beneficial? Take a look at our 'Links' page http://www.dramagroups.com/advertisers/admain.htm there may be some help in some of the listings. Do let me know how you get on or if I can help in any other way, Best Wishes, Peter Would you like to comment on this? Click Here |
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Post 4 Recent Post from one of our readers Name: anthony king email address? email Message? hello i am looking to get started in learning to act, and so far people have suggested a drama class or club. I live in Hartcliffe Bristol and would like to know which groups are around Bristol and that i might be able to join, i am 39 years old Peter's response: Hello Anthony, There are a number of Drama Groups or Societies listed on the 'Groups', 'Bristol' webpage on the www.dramagroups.com website. I suggest that you take a look at that page and make contact with some of the groups that attract your attention. Generally local amdrammers are very friendly people and even if their own Group is not quite what you're looking for I'm sure they'll go out of their way to help you find a Group that is suitable by suggesting other Groups that they know about. If my own experience is anything to go by any available man will be immediately snapped up by any Drama Group as men with an interest in drama seem to be in such short supply. Do let me know how your search goes, I'd be interested to hear and to publish your experience in the 'Advice' section of the website. Would you like to comment on this? Click Here |
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Post 3 Union Theatre, Solihull
Hi all, not quite sure I’m in the right place to ask this but here it goes... Union Theatre Solihull are putting on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in November. I need ideas on how I can create a convincing stone table that will crack/break and be reuseable, if that is possible. Posted on 04/08/2010 Would you like to comment on this? Click Here |
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Post 2 A recent post from Jane Hilliard of West Moors Drama Society in Dorset. Jane is a playwright as well as performing and directing with her local Drama Group. In answer to my plea Jane agreed to give us all some advice as to how all us budding authors could make a start on creating and publishing a play. Jane's advice is interesting and informative, if anyone would like to add further advice or comment on this piece please email Drama Groups I wrote my first full length play 'THE BOOBYTRAP' in 2004 and my Drama group presented it in 2005,since then I have written several shorts and one more full length piece all of which have been performed locally. Being an active member of the Drama group for many years,both acting and Directing,I had,as you can imagine,read many scripts so the format of writing a play was very familiar to me. I would advise anyone thinking of writing a play to read several scripts first. Script writing is quite different to storytelling as there is no need for descriptive passages....just dialogue and clear stage directions (I write these in italics) Before starting to write I usually have an idea of the plot, beginning and the end of a play.... also it's genre, although this often changes as the ideas begin to flow. It's important to decide the length of the piece I am working on...A short piece can be extended if the plot and the characters seem to warrant it..but it is difficult to know which bits to delete if it seems to 'ramble'! Once I am satisfied a piece is finished...the editing begins...very important! This can take some time and I have to control myself before I find I've rewritten the whole play! Finally,I spell check it very carefully...Spelling mistakes leap out from the written page and can interrupt the flow for the reader. Presentation is very important,therefore I make sure my scripts have...... A clear list of Characters (Their persona and their approximate ages) A precise synopsis of the plot A paragraph describing the stage setting A detailed props list,the acts in which they appear and the characters who will require them. Any sound,lighting or special effects and the pages on which they appear. I'm pleased to say the production of my play was a success and this inspired me to send it to several publishing companies in the hope they would find it interesting .I was quite prepared for disappointment and it was politely declined by one or two,but,they did write me nice letters with suggestions as to how the play may be improved,which I found very helpful. I wasn't downhearted because I know how difficult it is to get a play published but I didn't give up and in 2009 Jasper publications accepted it. There are several publishing companies who are very encouraging to new writers...The Internet is a useful tool to find them. Almost all companies prefer to receive scripts via the Internet. I found Jasper publishing to be very friendly and encouraging...not at all daunting. So,My advice to any playwright would be... Don't be discouraged ...keep trying and keep writing....It's very therapeutic! Jane Hilliard Posted on 20/05/2010 Would you like to comment on this? Click Here |
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Post 1 Recent Post from one of our readers Hey, my names ben, im 21/22 in june, for a while now I have been interested in theatre productions. one of my ambitions would be to star in theatre, unfortunately things havent gone to plan the way I wanted them to. would you please be able to send me some information, if any available oh how i could break myself into the theatre industry, any information at all would be greatly appreciated and hope to hear from you soon. many thanks. Ben Posted 22/04/2010 Peter's response: Hi Ben, Regrettably I'm not an expert in this field, if I were I think I'd be representing some up and coming stars instead of running this web site. My own thoughts are that if you are serious about breaking into theatre you should first of all get some experience. That could be by taking some drama courses or joining a local Drama Group or better still joining a touring company in whatever role that may be available even if it's back stage. You never know when a stand in might be needed. I think the thing is to immerse yourself in the theatre if you can. If you are already holding down a full time job in another industry then that's a problem because no doubt you will have financial commitments and won't find it easy to move yourself along. However, if you are really serious you will find a way to get experience. The other thing I would recommend is go to auditions whether that's for amateur groups or professional companies. Go along, give it a try and don't become despondent when you get rejected - it happens to everyone. The more you become involved the more visible you will be to those people that can help you move your career forward. Have courage, don't give up and believe in yourself. That's probably the best advice I can give you. Please keep in touch and let me know how your career progresses. If it's OK with you I might put your question and this answer up on the Drama Groups web site. Other people will be interested and might have some additional advice to give you. Please let me know if that's OK with you. Best Wishes Peter www.dramagroups.com Would you like to comment on this? Click Here |
